Olympics? How does someone else's personal achievement reflect on others, same nationality or not?

Question

Wearing other's wreaths, are we not merely the ridiculous Emperor, naked in his new clothes?

Answer 1

when the winner's back is turned, the other members of the team pee in his aquafina.  

Answer 2

It does not reflect on me as a person.  

It makes me proud of the achievements of the young people (can say that now cause I am old ha ha) of the world and hope that there will be a day when we can all be one, when there will be no more wars and no more hate.  

Yes, I know that is ridiculous to hope for, but for seventeen days every two years its a blessing to be able to think that maybe...just maybe....

Answer 3

Hero worship isn't new.  Remember that these are the "modern Olympics" after all.

I feel good when I watch a human of any nationality perform well.  I like winter Olympics better than summer because I have more experience with the winter sports, but the swimmers, divers, and track athletes have grace and beauty of their own, and it inspires me to do my little bit just a little bit better.   I see little harm in a feel good moment.

The function or dysfunction of that hero worship, whether on a personal or national scale, is dependent on the degree to which it controls our lives.  That goes for any sort of hero.  If it is carried to excess, we are indeed the naked grasping for another's clothing.  The President of the United States and the President of China  are in attendance at the US/China basketball game being broadcast as I type this.  I don't know if this is a personal or national moment for these two  powerful men.

When it's said and done, they are Olympic GAMES, not Olympic LIVES, after all.